"Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, waterbugs, tadpoles, frogs & turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, hickory nuts, trees to climb, animals to pet, hayfields, pine cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets – and any child who has been deprived of these
has been deprived of the best part of his education."
-Luther Burbank 1849 - 1926

PRIVACY POLICY
We don't share your information with anyone else. We ask that parents subscribe to the newsletter. We respect our community's children. We believe we are part of "our village" and need to care for one another.

RED BREASTED NUTHATCH - Species Profile

This tiny tree-climbing bird has a bluegray back with buff or reddish brown chest and belly. It has a black stripe through the eye and white stripe above the eye.

HABITAT

The cultivation of ornamental conifers has helped the northern native Red Breasted Nuthatch gradually migrate southward. It lives on the insect-populated trunks and limbs of conifers, moving up and down. Suburban or rural woods or mixture of trees and open space.

NESTING

NESTBOX: 4x4"-5x5", 1 1/8 to 1.5" Hole

The Red Breasted Nuthatch frequently excavates its own hole in soft, partially rotted wood. It sometimes will take up residence in a prepared nestbox. You might add some sawdust in the box to attract them.

FOOD

The Nuthatch eats insects and seeds of conifers. It often stores food in the crevices of rough bark. They can be attracted to eat suet, mixed suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts and peanut butter.

WATER

Provide a water source close to the ground, but away from bushes that can hide predators such as cats. Have small trees close for easy lookouts and preening before and after their bath and water break.

COVER

Small bushes in the grassland provide cover from overhead hawks and other predators. Brushpiles are also handy for many small birds who must take cover from predators.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

Nuthatches hop along tree trunks and branches searching for food. The frequently travel in small flocks.

Nuthatches store food in the bard of trees for winter dining, but they also stuff food into the wood around their nestbox for breeding time. The female is fed this food while she in incubating or fed to the developing fledglings. For this reason, consider adding a bark covered "predator guard" to the normal Western Red Cedar nestbox.
Nestboxes with a generous 4x4" cavity will house Nuthatches, as well as the following cavity nesters. Species-specific predator guards help prevent large predatory birds, snakes, raccoons and other predators from raiding the nests.